Polls: Obama numbers sinking on health care
President Obama
WASHINGTON — So what happened to the message maestro?
Polls since last night showing a nation distinctly dubious about health-care reform speak to the stern challenge ahead not just for President Barack Obama but for a divided Democratic Party.
According to an NBC News poll, 47 percent disapprove of the president’s handling of health care while 41 percent approve. More than half — 54 percent — worried that the government would go too far in reforming health-care.
A Pew Research poll released this morning showed the public more evenly divided on health care but anger at the inability of the major political parties to work together. The poll had some disquieting numbers for Democrats overall – a favorability rating that has sunk from 59 percent to 49 percent since spring.
Before Republicans start clapping, they should look at their party’s own favorability numbers in that poll — 40 percent.
The NBC poll observed that the sinking numbers on health reform are fueled by misperceptions: Majorities believe that legislation in Congress aims to provide health care for illegal immigrants, give the government the authority to take over health care in the country and provide taxpayer-financed abortions.
But in politics, perception equals reality, and the overall numbers point to a poor job by the White House of selling the programs that would amount to a signature achievement of the Obama administration.
Tomorrow afternoon, Obama is taking part in what is billed as a live strategy session with his Organizing for America supporters, a session reminiscent of his grassroots campaign that rewrote the book on winning elections.
The problem here for Obama is that many of his grassroots supporters are wedded to the so-called public option establishing a government-run health insurer, the reform hub that the administration now says is negotiable.
“When they floated that, there was pushback,” Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., a St. Louis native and stalwart public option supporter, remarked this morning.
Pushback indeed: The liberal establishment, from Congress to the comedy shows, revolted at the prospect of giving up the public option without a fight.
Obama has tinkered with his message, talking about “health insurance reform” rather than health-care reform on the stump. But more refinement — and persuasiveness with his own party — are in order.
Democrats had better get on the same page if the New York Times was right this morning in reporting that they are preparing to proceed without Republican support to pass health reform.
The paper quoted Rahm Emanuel, the president’s chief of staff, as saying that “the Republican leadership has made a strategic decision that defeating President Obama’s health care proposal is more important for their political goals than solving the health insurance problems that Americans face every day.”
I get so tired of the media parroting Democratic talking points. Yes the Dems amended the bill to exclude illegal aliens, but then they added a proviso that they (illegals) would not have to present any documentation. Hey, how’s that for a wink and a nod.
Okay, then you say it’s false that the government would take over health care. Duh. Did you read the small print? After five years people would be filtered into the public option though impossible standards on insurance companies. Ah how can for profit businesses compete against a government-subsidized entity? Please explain. And please don’t compare the post office (which is a government entity going broke) with Fed Ex that serves an entirely different clientele.
The devil is in the details, dear media, and this bill has hundreds of little pitchforks in it.
Parroting Democratic talking points? … Health care support sinking … President’s message magic gone … Democrats’ fav ratings plummeting … Dems party in revolt .. White House “poor job” of selling … Obama caves on public option. Those would be some peculiar talking points. (I like your ‘little pitchforks’ metaphor.)
Bill:
Fighting back… good for you! Like Barney Frank, insult your customer err… voters… it always works.
Funny though, you also told us: “Before Republicans start clapping…” clearly giving no credit for leading a principled opposition to this bill.
Further… you haven’t to my knowledge reported anything on the GOP reforms proposed in the House. People wanting to see what true reform looks like should check it out here:
http://republicanwhip.house.gov/HealthCare/
Lastly… To anyone that cares I wrote about all this two days ago in these pages and was roundly vilified. Let’s see if our liberal friends call Bill the same names that they called me.
To be certain, Republicans would love to see Mr. Obama fall on his face. But Emanuel presents a false dichotomy here. In fact, most Republicans believe that President Obama’s health care proposal would NOT “solve the health insurance problems that Americans face every day” but rather, would present us with even greater problems.
For better or worse, depending upon one’s perspective, Democrats have really dropped the ball on their healthcare proposal. When faced with public objections, they have dodged the issues, and launched personal attacks on those who opposed them. Emanuel’s statement is more of the same.
If Democrats can stick together, they have enough votes to proceed without Republican support. And here’s a scenario I can well imagine: Should the Democrats lose the majority next November, the lame duck Congress may pass a radical proposal without any Republican support. Stay tuned.
Republicans are the ones hurting themselves and making fellow Americans look like idiots. How can you compare Obama to Hitler? It is an oxymoron. Obama is trying to help people by giving an option for people invest in affordable healthcare. Hitler set up concentration camps with the direct purpose to kill people. Good for Barney Frank. In certain cases, the customer is not always right.
What’s the common denominator in FedEX, UPS and USPS? Shipping!
Square, here’s one thing I did on GOP proposals. http://tinyurl.com/lkqg5b. Problem is, they’ve only offered “principles” rather than legislation that can be scored. Not sure about that comparison to Barney Frank; he’s smarter than me.
What’s the common denominator in FedEX, UPS and USPS? Shipping!
— John
2:19 pm August 19th, 2009
And the USPS will be allowed to continue to run rampant in red ink. Isn’t government beautiful?
Did anyone look at the internals of the NBC poll? Sampled dems over Reps 43-29, 14 points. Think that might have effected the results? Its called push polling.
John, the National Socialists started off with healthcare for all, when they couldnt afford it, they started weeding out the less desirable.
If USPS is so damn good, why do they contract with Fedex for their overnight delivery?
Excellent picture selection.
We see one American President universally acclaimed for saving our nation…
…and then someone less inclined.
Si Vis Pacem Para Bellum,
If you really think that America is going to euthanize its own citizens, the education system has failed you. The private health insurance companies have a monopoly. Coverage denial due to a pre-existing health condition is a death panel in itself. They are the ones “weeding out the less desirable”. The only way to get government coverage is to be either 65 or fall below the poverty line, which no corrupt republican wants.
BTW, shipping through the USPS is cheaper than UPS and FedEx.